Before starting the search for information, you need to narrow your topic, and define some keywords. The keywords can be used to find information both in books and on the internet. You can narrow your topic by time, location or event. In our case, a specific battle would be the event.
Try to answer the following questions in order to narrow your topic: What do I already know about the topic? Do I want to cover a specific time period? Is there a geographic location on which I want to focus? Is there a particular aspect of the topic that interests me?
Answering these questions will help you come up with keywords (search terms) to start your search. Here are some examples of keywords:
"World War II"
"World War 2"
"World War" -- 1939-1945
"Second World War"
"World War II" AND Battles (if you want to find a list of battles)
"World War II" AND Battles NOT England (if you want to find a list of battles excluding the ones that happened in England)
Beware! Every library catalog, database and search engine has its own search strategies, some do not require you to write AND, NOT, OR. Instead they use mathematical symbols like +, - . Make sure you check the search tips for the search engine or database you are going to use.
Having defined your keywords, it is now time to start the search for information. There are several books about the topic in the library, a ****Research Guide**** offering more research tips and many links to relevant websites, databases and search engines. The library also offers two databases provinding primary source documents, images, government documents and much more that is not available free on the internet.
Here is a list of World War II resources you wouldn't like to miss:
BOOKS
There is a whole section on World War II in the library under the call number 940. You may want to browse the shelves or search on the **online catalog**. There is a resource list called MYP 5 -- World War II with books and websites available on the online catalog. Our Vadala collection, located upstairs also offers many books on the topic (Call number VAD 940).
On the reference section - by the check out desk - there are some books and encyclopedias that can help you with background information and keywords: World Book Encyclopedia (REF 031 WOR) Britannica (REF 031 NEW) World War II Day by Day (REF 940.53 DOR) Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (REF 903 KIN)
DOCUMENTARIES FreeDocumentaries.org
Vidoes and DVDs available in the library
By Mandacy Entertainment Group, Canada, 2000 (call number: DVD 940.54 BAT): Battle of Britain
Battle of Russia
Battle of Volga
By Guidance Associates, 1990 (call number: VID 940.54 WIT) Witness to History: World War II - The Dark Years
World War II - Research Help
Before starting the search for information, you need to narrow your topic, and define some keywords. The keywords can be used to find information both in books and on the internet. You can narrow your topic by time, location or event. In our case, a specific battle would be the event.
Try to answer the following questions in order to narrow your topic:
What do I already know about the topic?
Do I want to cover a specific time period?
Is there a geographic location on which I want to focus?
Is there a particular aspect of the topic that interests me?
Answering these questions will help you come up with keywords (search terms) to start your search. Here are some examples of keywords:
"World War II"
"World War 2"
"World War" -- 1939-1945
"Second World War"
"World War II" AND Battles (if you want to find a list of battles)
"World War II" AND Battles NOT England (if you want to find a list of battles excluding the ones that happened in England)
Beware! Every library catalog, database and search engine has its own search strategies, some do not require you to write AND, NOT, OR. Instead they use mathematical symbols like +, - . Make sure you check the search tips for the search engine or database you are going to use.
Having defined your keywords, it is now time to start the search for information. There are several books about the topic in the library, a ****Research Guide**** offering more research tips and many links to relevant websites, databases and search engines. The library also offers two databases provinding primary source documents, images, government documents and much more that is not available free on the internet.
Here is a list of World War II resources you wouldn't like to miss:
BOOKS
There is a whole section on World War II in the library under the call number 940. You may want to browse the shelves or search on the **online catalog**. There is a resource list called MYP 5 -- World War II with books and websites available on the online catalog. Our Vadala collection, located upstairs also offers many books on the topic (Call number VAD 940).
On the reference section - by the check out desk - there are some books and encyclopedias that can help you with background information and keywords:
World Book Encyclopedia (REF 031 WOR)
Britannica (REF 031 NEW)
World War II Day by Day (REF 940.53 DOR)
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (REF 903 KIN)
DATABASES
ABC-CLIO
EBSCO (History Reference Center)
SEARCH ENGINES
Google (try the Wonder Wheel and Timeline)
Google Alert(it stores your queries and notify you of new reults by e-mail)
DuckDuckGo
Librarian's Internet Index
Finding Dulcinea (Online Guides)
DOCUMENTARIES
FreeDocumentaries.org
Vidoes and DVDs available in the library
By Mandacy Entertainment Group, Canada, 2000 (call number: DVD 940.54 BAT):
Battle of Britain
Battle of Russia
Battle of Volga
By Guidance Associates, 1990 (call number: VID 940.54 WIT)
Witness to History: World War II - The Dark Years
PRIMARY SOUCES (speeches, letters, journals/diaries, interviews, artifacts, legislation, autobiographies, and photographs).
Eyewitness to History: History Through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It (Eyewitness accounts organized by date)
Eurodocs
German Propaganda Archive
World War II Resources
Historical Atlas of the Twentienth Century
Remember! If you are still not finding what you are looking for, or need help narrowing you topic, talk to Mrs. Beyer, she will be happy to help you!